Companion animals show behavioral and physiological responses to the loss of bonded companions that are consistent with grief. Understanding animal grief helps owners and veterinarians provide appropriate support.
Animal grief represents a genuine welfare state - a surviving dog or cat that stops eating, searches repeatedly for its companion, or shows lethargy and withdrawal is experiencing real psychological distress. The evidence that animals experience something analogous to grief is now substantial enough that this should be taken seriously in companion animal welfare management. Owners who notice these changes are witnessing a real welfare problem, not imagining it. Appropriate responses include maintaining routine stability (which reduces uncertainty for the grieving animal), providing increased human companionship, monitoring for clinical deterioration, and veterinary consultation for animals showing severe or prolonged responses. Respecting the reality of animal grief is both scientifically appropriate and welfare-positive.